Edinburgh

When I originally set this weekend aside as a stay-on-campus weekend, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It was a smart idea for a couple reasons… Midterms are next week, my past few trips have been over budget, and I’m feeling under the weather. But I still felt a desperate restlessness when Friday rolled around and my friends packed their bags and flew away. Somehow it seems crucial to travel every week as I study abroad – a wasted opportunity to stop and breathe.

I didn’t realize how exhausted I’ve been until I experienced my first lazy Saturday in Europe. Instead of getting lost between train stations, I watched Spirited Away in the castle lounge and ate raisin bread. Today I curled up in an armchair with my art history notes, ready to absorb everything about Romanesque churches, when it hit me. I wanted to write. And for the first time in weeks, I had time.

I hadn’t meant to go this long without sharing my semester with you. Maybe photos of Scotland will help?

Our flight was delayed five hours and we arrived in Edinburgh far later than expected. It was so dark we couldn’t see a single building or street, but we found our way to the hostel and crashed on teetering bunk beds. I woke up early the next morning with no idea what Scotland looked like.

I found the shower room, pushed open the door, and groggily cursed the bright light coming from the window. But when I opened my eyes and looked outside for the first time, I actually dropped my bottle of shampoo, rushed back to the room, and returned with my camera. We woke up to one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen – the whole city bathed in fog, planks of light skimming across steeples and trees and rocky crags.

We walked outside and realized, in the daylight, that our hostel rubbed up against the Edinburgh Castle. My life is unreal.

I spent my first day exploring. I tried to soak in the stone buildings, made up of a million colors – almond, tan, khaki, black, a few blush pink. I walked through a park and stumbled upon this beautiful cemetery. Some gravestones weren’t completely rubbed down by wind and weather, and the people laid to rest dated back centuries.

I watched a street performer breathe fire, swallow swords, and lay beneath a bed of nails.

More than anything else, I loved the layout of Edinburgh. I didn’t realize until we stood high on a ridge and looked down at the city, but the streets weave and tangle like a knot. The city has layers, with some roads above and some roads below, and massive inclines in between. For some reason, we always ended up walking uphill both ways to and from our hostel.

It didn’t make sense to us either.

Our first day in Edinburgh was absolutely gorgeous. People kept telling us not to be fooled by the beautiful weather… I thought it was modesty. Then one afternoon the rain turned on and never turned off. Up until that point I’d marveled at the way I could stand on a street and look all the way down, stretching out forever – that day Edinburgh fog swept through until you could barely see anything.

At night, we tried (somewhat unsuccessfully) to find late night food. We sang Brown Eyed Girl at a piano bar and went to a ceilidh – “kaylee,” in my American accent – or a traditional Scottish dance.

I befriended some of the kindest, warmest people I have ever met.

I left Edinburgh fulfilled and awakened, thinking that I could see myself living here someday.

This semester is a gift. I can’t wait to share more of it with you in the coming weeks!

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You should live in Edinburgh! I was at Edinburgh University for my Master’s degree and it was magical. Looking at your photos made me feel nostalgic and happy at the same time. It’s a great place to be and live. I’m so happy that’s not the trip you decided to skip. Thanks for posting!

Edinburgh looks absolutely majestic. I live in London but i’ve never actually visited Edinburgh…time to change that I think. Next you have to visit London; local produce in Borough Market, curry on Brick lane, ice skating outside Somerset House at Christmas, The London Eye at night…it’s all magical. Come see! x

Beautiful photographs and account. I’m dying to go to Scotland as I’ve never been and it’s only about an hour’s journey and the plane tickets from Dublin, where I live, only cost about 30-50 euro… What am I waiting for? I think this post has motivated me to finally go. I’m glad you’re keeping in touch with us readers even when your life’s so hectic. I can’t wait to hear more in the next few weeks!

What a lovely, lovely post. I’ve lived in Edinburgh for the last 7 years and reading your post made me view the city with fresh eyes. Its easy (but wrong) to get complacent living in such a wonderful city. Did you get a chance to walk around the new town?

I miss you terribly and am so sad you are away but I have never been happier seeing the world through your eyes and seeing the joy that radiates from you when we find the time to see each other on Skype. I want you to come home soon and never stop seeing the world.

Keep wringing what you can out of life, I can’t wait to share your experiences over pasta with too much sauce or a warm dog laying at our feet.

if you head up to inverness, i’ve got the best B&B for you to visit. or, over to glencoe – an amazing cottage rental, RIGHT where they filmed the hagrid’s hut scenes for harry potter. and, of course, beautiful beaches in mallaig. yay scotland!

Wow, Edinburgh sounds lovely! What made you choose Scotland as a destination over other choices you may have had? I’ve been all over Europe, but haven’t been to Scotland yet. Looking forward to more pictures and stories from you!!

Your photos and words are, as always, so charming. I’ve heard a lot about Edinburgh recently, and really hope I get a chance to visit soon! Went as far as London last year. One bad thing about living in New Zealand is how far away from everywhere else it is!!

I did a study abroad in London and we spent a week in Edinburgh and it was so amazing. Have some chocolate soup while you are there :) I can’t wait till you can post more – love hearing about all of the adventures!

Thank you for sharing this! I spent a semester at Uni Edinburgh for my own study abroad a few years ago. In the photo of the street, my apartment was in the pink and tan building on the left! I miss it every day, and like everyone else has said, Edinburgh is truly a wonderful and magical city. Enjoy your semester abroad, it’s a once in a lifetime experience! Thanks for a great post and as always, great writing and photos!

I live in Edinburgh! It was such a surprise to read your new blog post and see photos of ‘home’. Your writing about the city was beautiful – it made me appreciate what a special place it is – it’s easy to forget it when you see it every day.

Yay Scotland! I think it is my favorite place in Europe. If you get a chance you should head north – Aberdeen is my favorite city – the buildings are made from granite so they literally sparkle in the sunlight. The islands are amazing – one of the most beautiful places on earth is the Italian Chapel – built by WWII prisoners.
Foods that you should totally eat – blackcurrant jam which goes great on scones. Coronation Chicken sandwiches – and Skirlie – very uniquely Scottish. Oh, and Banoffie Pie.

Only just found your blog, wish I had found it a bit earlier so that I could have shown you around Edinburgh where I live! I’m English and not from here originally but I have fallen in love with it and hope that I can live here for many more years to come. I’ve lived in many different places over Europe but Edinburgh is the one place that really feels like home
I’m so glad you had such a brilliant time here!
laura

I can’t wait to start traveling myself. In high school I dreamed of taking a year to study abroad but when I went into nursing school I realized that wouldn’t be happening, It’s still a goal of mine though…